Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
It was a stipulation I agreed to in order to be here tonight—I go nowhere without letting everyone know, and I bring Ian everywhere.
“I’ll go with you,” Peyton says.
“Me too,” Bri adds.
“Do women ever go to the bathroom alone?” Dominick mutters.
“Nope,” the three of us say in unison and then laugh.
Since we all have guards with us, Ian walks in front of us, clearing the way, and Daniil and Denis take the rear.
The line to the bathroom is long, and I almost consider going back, not wanting to miss the fight, but I really do have to go.
“There are several stalls,” Peyton yells over the noise. “It should go fast.”
Ten minutes later, we make it inside, and I run to an empty stall and hover over the toilet to go pee. Once I’m done, I quickly wash my hands and then head out, figuring I’ll meet them outside so someone else can come in to use the stall I was just in.
Only when I step outside, the crowd for the restroom has deepened, and a fight between two women has broken out. In the midst of the chaos, I’m shoved out of the way and into the corner of the room. People are yelling and screaming, and it looks like several other women—and men—have joined in.
I try to locate the guards, but there are too many people crowding the area. It’s announced that the fight will be starting in two minutes, but it doesn’t stop the brawl that’s taking place from escalating.
I’m jostled every which way, and I get turned around. Since I can’t seem to find anyone I know, I make the decision to head back to the VIP section.
But before doing so, I pull my phone out to text Ian so he knows what’s happening. I’m typing out a text to him when I’m pushed forward, and I lose my balance. I reach out to steady myself, but before I can, strong arms wrap around me from behind, and I’m lifted off my feet.
I open my mouth to scream, but a huge hand covers my mouth as I’m carried, kicking and screaming, farther away from the main area.
I glance around, trying to catch someone’s—anyone’s—attention, but then what sounds like shots being fired pierces my ears, and the crowd goes crazy in panic. People are yelling, running, dropping to the floor. And as I’m carried out, it hits me that everyone I love is in that warehouse, and I pray they make it out alive.
I don’t stop fighting the entire way to the vehicle, but once I’m forced into the back of a van and my phone is taken, my heart sinks in defeat because I have no way out.
The drive doesn’t take long, and the fact that I’m not blindfolded scares me because they don’t care if I see where we’re going, which leads me to believe they’re going to kill me.
I’m yanked out of the vehicle, and a rag of some sort is shoved into my mouth to keep me muted while my hands are tied painfully behind my back.
As I’m dragged down the darkened path, I can’t help but think about my life. I lived for the moment I could move home and finally get to know my parents, but then they died before it happened. Then, I looked forward to working with my brother, only to be taken and held captive and then had to hide out, in fear of being killed. Now, I am finally in a good place and have found love, only for it to be ripped away in the blink of an eye.
A part of me wonders if I’m meant to be happy, but the other part of me—the part that’s trying to be positive—says that if I make it out of this alive, I’m not going to waste a single second of my life. I’m going to live my life to the fullest, love Matteo with every fiber of my being. I’m going to get to know my brother and make memories that are worth remembering.
“Let’s go,” one of the guys says, shoving me toward a cargo crate that’s open and empty.
Before I step inside, the scent of saltwater hits my senses, and I glance around, noticing that despite the lack of lights, we’re at a port. I wonder if it’s the one Matteo runs, and if so, I hope that means he’ll be able to find me. Then, I chuckle under my breath because it doesn’t matter where I am, if I’m capable of being found, Matteo will find me, or he’ll tear this city apart, trying to.
“Get inside,” the guy demands, yanking my arm so I’m forced to step into the container.
My heart starts to pound in my chest at the thought of why I’m being brought here. It’s no secret that the Antonovs handle a huge amount of the import and export through their port.